Rowan awarded Carnegie high-research classification

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education last week announced Rowan University received a Carnegie R2 classification (high research activity), naming it just one of 139 of more than 4,300 colleges and universities across the country with that distinction.

“Rowan reached R2 status by rapidly expanding our research portfolio—while remaining committed to undergraduate education,” according to Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, president.

The organization announced that it re-evaluated its ranking system for research institutions and is now counting medical degree programs, among other factors, in its calculations for awarding R1 and R2 designations. 
 
“Rowan accepts the designation with great pride because it speaks to the impact we are making and the value of our focus on opportunities seldom offered at public institutions like ours,” Houshmand said.

New Jersey designated Rowan as the state’s second comprehensive research university in 2012, a decision that led to the formation of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and the integration of the School of Osteopathic Medicine. Annual research and grant-funded projects amounted to only $13.7 million for the entire university that year.

In 2017, Carnegie recognized Rowan as an R3 institution (moderate research activity) for its growing research awards and grants ($34 million) and number of students graduating with doctoral degrees. 
 
Earlier in 2018, The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac of Higher Education named Rowan the sixth fastest-growing college or university in America among public doctoral institutions. 
 
And less than two years since acquiring national research institution status, Rowan has been redesignated as a Carnegie-R2 (high research activity), a milestone partly attained by recognizing the 226 graduates of its medical schools and total research expenditures as reported through the National Science Foundation Higher Education Research & Development Survey.

In 2018, research awards and grants were at $39.6 million, invention disclosures were at 175 (over the last eight years) and patents issued were at 25. Faculty are receiving prestigious awards such as the 2018 Berryman award, National Science Foundation CAREER Award and many others.

Rowan has recently invested heavily in the construction of new buildings, including the soon-to-open Joint Health Sciences Center in Camden. And Rowan will be investing $50 million to expand health science research in the city of Camden during the next decade. The South Jersey Technology Park is full, and the institution is planning for a second building.